Dylan Sampson

Dylan Sampson enters the 2026 fantasy season as a cheap but interesting depth play for Cleveland, with the biggest selling point being his pass-catching ability rather than pure rushing volume. The latest preseason outlooks still view him as the Browns’ clear No. 2 back behind Quinshon Judkins, and that role makes him more useful in PPR leagues than in standard formats.

There is no recent injury or transaction news that dramatically changes his outlook, and he is currently listed as healthy with Cleveland heading into the season. That stability matters, because his fantasy value depends on being available for the passing-down and change-of-pace work that has kept him on the radar.

The range of recent projections is pretty favorable for a late-round pick. Expert rankings and projections place him roughly in the RB48-RB55 neighborhood, with some models expecting around 35 catches and modest overall rushing production in 2026. That kind of profile usually does not win leagues by itself, but it does offer a useful weekly floor if injuries open the door to a larger role.

For fantasy managers, the best way to view Sampson is as a rosterable bench RB in deeper formats and a sensible target if you want inexpensive PPR upside. If Judkins stays healthy, Sampson is more of a situational flex or handcuff than a locked-in starter, but his receiving role gives him a clearer path to usable fantasy weeks than most backs drafted in this range.